CPI(M) State secretariat member G. Ramakrishnan said that his party’s “central task” was to defeat the communalism of the BJP. Describing the elections as “a fight between communalism and secularism”, he said: “Any other issue is secondary.”

Defending the ties with the AIADMK, CPI(M) State secretary N. Sankaraiah said corruption would be a non-issue on a national platform.